Time and again, vaccinating a kid has proven to be effective for protection against critical and infectious diseases. That is why, you must follow the government-prescribed vaccination chart for babies in India to ensure their absolute wellness. Do you know that babies may catch a particular disease at a particular age? Yes, and so you must immunize the baby with the right dosage and at the exact age so that it has the best impact. You can also contact the pediatrician and get a vaccination schedule for baby in India after a thorough consultation.
Vaccination Chart for Babies in India – Ensure Your Baby’s Wellness
The vaccination process starts as soon as your baby is born, so start following the vaccination chart for babies in India as soon as possible. There are some mandatory vaccines and, in some cases, pediatricians might also recommend additional ones. Moreover, a few vaccines have a single dosage while others require multiple doses after a particular period. In this blog, we will discuss the UNICEF recommended vaccination chart for babies in India.
Vaccination Schedule for Baby in India - Childbirth to 5-6 Years
The immune system of kids is not strong enough to protect them from communicable diseases. In that case, you do not want them to contract a virus or disease and this is where the vaccination chart for babies in India comes into the picture. Even after babies meet an infected person, immunization will not let them suffer from its complications. The baby immunization chart India also mentions the side effects of some vaccines to keep you well-prepared.
|
Age |
Vaccine |
Administered Via |
Protection Against |
Side Effects |
|
Childbirth |
Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) |
Injection |
Tuberculosis |
Discharge or soreness at the injected spot |
|
High temperature |
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|
Headache |
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|
Swollen glands under the baby’s armpit that received the vaccine |
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|
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) |
Orally |
Poliovirus |
- |
|
|
Hepatitis B |
Injection |
Hepatitis B |
Soreness |
|
|
Redness at the injected place |
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|
6 Weeks Old |
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) |
Orally |
Poliovirus |
- |
|
Pentavalent |
Injection |
Pertussis, diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib, and Tetanus |
Fever |
|
|
Redness |
||||
|
Pain |
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|
Swelling at the injected site |
||||
|
Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) |
Orally |
Rotaviruses |
Vomiting, |
|
|
Irritation |
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|
Diarrhea |
||||
|
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) |
Injection |
Septicemia, Pneumonia, and Meningitis, Otitis media and Sinusitis |
Swelling |
|
|
Redness |
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|
Fever |
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|
Pain |
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|
Fussiness |
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|
Appetite loss |
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|
Headache |
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|
Tiredness |
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|
Chills |
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|
Muscle aches |
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|
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) |
Injection |
Poliovirus |
Fever |
|
|
Soreness |
||||
|
10 Weeks Old |
Pentavalent |
Injection |
Pertussis, diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib, and Tetanus |
Same as above |
|
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) |
Orally |
Poliovirus |
- |
|
|
Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) |
Orally & Injection |
Rotaviruses |
Same as above |
|
|
14 Weeks Old |
Pentavalent |
Injection |
Pertussis, diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib, and Tetanus |
Same as above |
|
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) |
Orally |
Poliovirus |
- |
|
|
Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) |
Orally & Injection |
Rotaviruses |
Same as above |
|
|
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) |
Injection |
Septicemia, Pneumonia, and Meningitis, Otitis media and Sinusitis |
Same as above |
|
|
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) |
Injection |
Poliovirus |
Same as above |
|
|
9-12 Months Old |
Measles And Rubella (MR) |
Injection |
Measles and Rubella |
Redness |
|
Swelling |
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|
Soreness on the injected spot |
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|
High temperatures |
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|
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) |
Injection |
Japanese Encephalitis |
Headache |
|
|
Fever |
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|
Muscle aches |
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|
Tenderness |
||||
|
Pain |
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|
Swelling |
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|
Redness around the vaccinated spot |
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|
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) |
Injection |
Ear infections, Pneumonia, Meningitis, Sinus infections, and Bacteremia |
Appetite loss |
|
|
Swelling |
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|
Redness |
||||
|
Fever |
||||
|
Irritability |
||||
|
Crying |
||||
|
16-24 Months Old |
Measles And Rubella (MR) |
Injection |
Measles And Rubella |
Same as above |
|
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) |
Injection |
Japanese Encephalitis |
Same as above |
|
|
Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) |
Injection |
Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria |
Fever |
|
|
Swelling |
||||
|
Soreness around the vaccinated spot |
||||
|
Exhaustion |
||||
|
Irritation |
||||
|
Vomiting |
||||
|
Appetite loss |
||||
|
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) |
Orally |
Poliovirus |
- |
|
|
5-6 Years Old |
Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) |
Injection |
Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria |
Same as above |
What Are These Vaccines And Why Does Your Baby Need Them?
1. Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)
As per the newborn baby vaccination chart India, this single dosage vaccine is injected into the baby’s upper arm to protect him/her against tuberculosis. Please look for any side effects in the vaccination chart for babies in India like discharge or soreness at the injected spot, high temperature, headache, or swollen glands under the armpit that received the shot.
How to Take Care?
- Pat the injected spot dry after bathing your child.
- If required, use the sterile alcohol swab for cleaning the spot.
- Always keep the spot dry and clean and look for any other precautions in the vaccination chart for babies in India.
- If it starts oozing, you may use the wound dressing with a gauze.
- Do not put antiseptic creams, sticking plasters, or antiseptic creams.
2. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
The highly infectious virus especially affects kids aged 5 years or younger invading their nervous system and possibly leading to paralysis. The vaccination chart for kids in India mentions that it has no side effects.
3. Hepatitis B
This vaccine is injected to protect kids from a potentially serious ailment, Hepatitis B. You must always go through the vaccination schedule for baby in India and know its side effects as well. This includes soreness or redness at the injected spot.
How To Take Care?
- In case of fever and pain, check with the doctor to confirm the possibility and dosage for ibuprofen, paracetamol, or acetaminophen.
- Have extra fluids and keep a check on any special instructions in the vaccination chart for babies in India.
- Avoid overdressing if diagnosed with fever.
4. Pentavalent
According to the vaccination chart for babies in India, Pentavalent vaccine safeguards the children against Pertussis, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib, and Tetanus. The side effects might involve fever, redness, pain, swelling at the injected spot and hence you can request your doctor to add special suggestions in the vaccination chart for babies in India.
How To Take Care?
- Give ibuprofen for kids aged over 3 months and paracetamol for the ones aged over 2 months.
5. Rotavirus Vaccine
This vaccine stated in the vaccination chart for babies in India helps secure your munchkin from Rotaviruses causing diarrhea and vomiting. As a parent, it is your duty to follow the vaccination schedule for baby in India and contact your pediatrician in case of emergencies. Look for any signs of vomiting, irritation, and diarrhea.
How To Take Care?
- Watch out for stomach pain and severe crying.
- Contact your healthcare provider if the symptoms persist or become worse.
6. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
It is among the most prevalent vaccines in the vaccination chart for babies in India to protect the child from Septicemia, Pneumonia, and Meningitis, Otitis media and Sinusitis. It has a long list of side effects including swelling, redness, fever, pain, fussiness, appetite loss, headache, tiredness, chills, or muscle aches.
How To Take Care?
- Check with the doctor for any possible medicine and its accurate dosage.
- Keep the kid hydrated
7. Inactivated Polio Vaccine
It works against the impact of poliovirus in children. Soreness or fever are the most common side effects stated in the vaccination schedule for baby in India.
How To Take Care?
- Ask the doctor if you can give ibuprofen, paracetamol liquid, or acetaminophen for fever or pain.
8. Measles And Rubella
As the name states, this vaccine in the vaccination chart for babies in India offers security against measles and rubella that might cause critical diseases.
How To Take Care?
- Check for a treatment if the kid develops the rash along with other symptoms.
- You can give ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever or pain.
9. Japanese Encephalitis
The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine protects kids from the Japanese Encephalitis virus which is an infection spread by the infected mosquitoes. Moreover, the vaccination chart for babies in India also mentions the side effects like headache, fever, muscle aches, tenderness, pain, swelling, or redness around the immunized spot.
How To Take Care?
- Ask the doctor in advance for any medicine good for the kid.
- Stay in the hospital for 15 minutes to check for any extreme symptom.
10. Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus
The vaccination schedule for baby in India states that this vaccine fights against Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria. Pertussis is a respiratory ailment with symptoms like a cold leading to extreme coughing while Tetanus is a nerve disease which may happen at any age. Lastly, Diphtheria is a critical throat infection which may block the kid’s airway leading to crucial breathing issues.
Do not worry if your baby suffers from fever, swelling, soreness around the injected site, exhaustion, irritation, vomiting, or appetite loss. These are common side effects of this vaccine.
How To Take Care?
- Check with the doctor before giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever or pain.
- Place a heating pad or a damp, warm cloth on the injected spot.
Conclusion
As a guardian, you must follow the vaccination schedule to ensure your kids’ absolute protection from diseases and infections. Schedule their appointment as per the updated vaccination chart for babies in India to avoid missing the shots. Be aware and connect with the pediatrician if you notice any unusual behavior in your kids or consistently high temperatures.
